¹ When the Israelites escaped from Egypt—
    when the family of Jacob left that foreign land—
² the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary,
    and Israel became his kingdom.

³ The Red Sea^[a] saw them coming and hurried out of their way!
    The water of the Jordan River turned away.
⁴ The mountains skipped like rams,
    the hills like lambs!
⁵ What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way?
    What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away?
⁶ Why, mountains, did you skip like rams?
    Why, hills, like lambs?

⁷ Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
    at the presence of the God of Jacob.
⁸ He turned the rock into a pool of water;
    yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock.

1. Psalm 114:3 Hebrew the sea; also in 114:5.

I have a confession. I always have been secretly intrigued by “superheroes.” They have such great names: Superman, Batman, the Flash, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Wonder Woman. They all have an arsenal of strengths and each with an assortment of special abilities and tricky moves.

Usually, there is a certain moment in a superhero’s life when they become “activated.” The gift suddenly comes alive, and they start to live their lives differently. The particular gift they have been bestowed with, starts to change the world around them.

We look at the children of Israel and we can see something (or is it Someone?) that makes them significantly different. Just in case you haven’t noticed, Israel does not have a normal history. The Old Testament says that God selected them because they were the least and weakest of all the nations of the earth.

“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.”

Deut. 7:7

Commentary

V.1-2, “When the Israelites escaped from Egypt—
    when the family of Jacob left that foreign land—
² the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary,
    and Israel became his kingdom.”

The weakest has been chosen, by the power of God. The psalmist replays the history for all to hear. These covenant people have metamorphosed into someone completely different. It’s the 98 pound weakling who suddenly becomes a linebacker for the Chicago Bears. Or the meek office boy named Clark who somehow becomes Superman.

There are two words that should ‘cue us up’– sanctuary and kingdom. Both words are used to communicate a sense of the special heritage and position of being “the called ones”.

As believers we must discover who we are. We are set apart as special. My wife has done this to our home. She has dishes that are used on holidays. I wouldn’t dream of using them to microwave a ‘bean-and-cheese burrito’. That simply is not their function.

V. 3, “The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away.”

Formidable obstacles will submit to these “special people”. Water has always been used as a tactical barrier. But all of a sudden– with God leading, we see miracles happening. The Red Sea opens up, and the sea bed becomes a “super-highway.” And later on, the same would happen to the River Jordan.

As people of the New Covenant are led by our Savior Jesus through substantial issues. We all have our own versions of the “Red Sea.” We are brought out of slavery with promises of freedom and protection. Sometimes we just need a reminder of who we really are.

*

ybic, Bryan